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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3

Portability
69
Imaging
38
Features
29
Overall
34
Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ front
 
Pentax K-3 front
Portability
59
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 Key Specs

Olympus SP-820UZ
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-896mm (F3.4-5.7) lens
  • 485g - 117 x 78 x 93mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Succeeded the Olympus SP-820UZ
  • Renewed by Olympus SP-820UZ
Pentax K-3
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Successor is Pentax K-3 II
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Olympus and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the SP-820UZ (14MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the SP-820UZ (1/2.3") and K-3 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The SP-820UZ was introduced 19 months earlier than the K-3 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SP-820UZ being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a quick overview of how the SP-820UZ grades versus the K-3 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-820UZ over the Pentax K-3

 SP-820UZ K-3 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 over the Olympus SP-820UZ

 K-3 SP-820UZ 
LaunchedApril 2014August 2012More recent by 19 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)

Common features in the Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax K-3

 SP-820UZ K-3 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SP-820UZ features outside measurements of 117mm x 78mm x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") with a weight of 485 grams (1.07 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-3 has dimensions of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") and a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SP-820UZ compared to the K-3.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SP-820UZ and K-3 is 69 and 59 respectively.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor measurements simply by researching a spec sheet. The graphic here should offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-820UZ and K-3.

Clearly, both of those cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SP-820UZ having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Pentax K-3 will render more detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images much more aggressively. The older SP-820UZ will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Portrait photography advice
Pentax K-3 Portrait photography advice
34
decent MP (14MP)
includes face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-820UZ
Street photography with Pentax K-3
37
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (485g)
69
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
great high ISO (51,200)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Sports photography camera
33
great zoom range (22-896mm 40.7 x zoom)
decent MP (14MP)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
bad battery (560 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ Travel photography factors
Pentax K-3 Travel photography factors
55
decent MP (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (22mm)
very long zoom (896mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (485 grams)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
60
environment proof
good resolution (24MP)
has built in flash
bad battery (560 CIPA)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-3 as a Landscape photography camera
35
rather wide (22mm)
screen size is good (3")
decent MP (14MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse mode
77
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3.2 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
2 card slots
bad battery (560 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SP-820UZ as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-3 as a Vlogging camera
25
rather wide (22mm)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no mic port
heavier than competition in class (485g)
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
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Olympus SP-820UZ vs Pentax K-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-820UZ and Pentax K-3
 Olympus Stylus SP-820UZPentax K-3
General Information
Brand Olympus Pentax
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ Pentax K-3
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-08-21 2014-04-10
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4288 x 3216 6016 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 22-896mm (40.7x) -
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.7 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 460k dots 1,037k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech TFT Color LCD TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 15.00 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, slow sync + red-eye, trailing curtain sync, high speed, wireless, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 180 (30, 240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 485 gr (1.07 pounds) 800 gr (1.76 pounds)
Dimensions 117 x 78 x 93mm (4.6" x 3.1" x 3.7") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 1216
Other
Battery life - 560 photos
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 Two
Cost at launch $299 $639